Originally Posted by
Brianek
So, what's the best way to book an Ex-OSL DONE4/5 right now ? Does it need a travel agent ? Or could i set up the itinerary in the Oneworld booking tool and book it via BA ?
First flights would be OSL-DOH-MCT. So maybe better to book via QR, given QR will be the first flight in the itinerary ?
It's personal preference. If you use a travel agent, you will have much greater flexibility, e.g., being able to choose which carrier to ticket on, and being able to book many flights as codeshares, but you will have to pay the agent's fee. As an example, I've used my corporate TA for personal RTWs because he can book domestic AA flights as codeshares so I earn in AAdvantage using the distance method rather than the fare method. Other people I know have had a TA ticket an RTW on UL because the fuel surcharges were much less than way.
AA is a convenient option for many of us in the U.S., since we can just call them and do things. A number of people in the OW forum use BA, which has dedicated RTW teams, but I think they are reachable via email, not phone, but I'm told any of their phone agents can book RTWs.
Originally Posted by
JohnAx
Doesn't that just mean the booking tool is flawed - surely there is no such rule
Correct, it is a flaw in the online booking tool.
Originally Posted by
JohnAx
Unfortunately the AA ATW Desk seemed to have become worse than mediocre a couple of years after the Age of Sara. I see it still gets recommended here - is that someone's ancient memory, or have they built some new talent in a dedicated agent pool?
Some of the long-time RTW agents are still there, and you might be lucky and get one. And every now and then, someone gets very lucky when trying to do something prohibited, by getting an agent who doesn't understand the rules, and performs the request (where an experienced RTW agent would refuse to even try).